The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-24
GAS AND SCIENCE,

Prof Alexander Winchel In his recently
published work Cd geology, declares that tits
impossible for the enormous supplies of oil
md gas now taken from the earth to continue
many years. Reproduction is undoubtedly
in progress, but it is comparatively slow. He
believes we are using and wasting the accu-
mutations of millions of years.
To be sure, the recent Developments of gas
and ell in Indiana are in opposition to the
prophecies of the biologists, and, therefore,
their dictum is looked upon with suspicion.
The lato State Geologist, DR.. Collett, was
happily disappointed at the finds in Indiana,
and fancifully related it to the recent
seismic disturbances having Charleston, S. c.,
as their center. The biologists of Ohio were
mistaken in regard to the gas regions of that
State. But no discredit should be cast upon
geological science because gas and oil cannot
be located at Brightwood, or any other point,
with the positiveness that beds Of coal have
been located by biologists in Indiana and
Pennsylvania.
Professor Coulter has given, probably, the
best popular exposition Of the. subject
that has been laid before the people,
in his Charlottesville lecture, published in
full in last Sunday issue of the Journal. 1t
has been proved beyond doubt that while
Indiana is in its surface features great plain,
sloping from the northeast to the southwest
asshown by its river drainage, that its under
lying formations of rock do not lie in the level
position in which they were laid down in the
great Paleozoic sea. The Cincinnati uplift"
of Ohio and Kentucky, and the "Lasalle up
lift of Illinois are in essence outlying mem
bers of the Allegheny mountain system, and
are caused by the Same general forces that
raised these mountains from the sea bot
tom. These uplifts have long been known,
and are described in all American text books
of geology.
To State Geologist Thompson and his staff
belongs the credit Of giving in their recent
report concise account of similar uplift in
Indiana known as the wabash Arch" The
Lower Silurian strata were laid down hori-
zontially in the sea bottom, as all sedimentous
deposits are laid down. The shrinkage of the
earth's interior has continued since these
strata were formed, and the weight of the
crust above has thrown the surface into
wrinkles as is the case with the skin of a
whitening apple. The lateral thrust of these
great masses has broken the crust at
its weakest lines of resistance, thus forming
The mountain masses of the con tinents. The
Cincinnati and La Sale uplifts, as well as the
Wabash arch, are mountain ranges on small
scale, caused by the same kind Of forces which
elevated the great ranges of the Atlantic and
P.cifc seaboard.
While the local biologists of each State
have not been able to say gas is to be found
here or there, geological and chemical science
have determined the general principles of it.
formation and preservation. Valuable as gas
oil and even coal are in a commercial sense
they are minor geological phenomen;
from a purely scientific point of view
No science has been cultivated by its devotee
more sincerely and purely for truths sake
than geology. If utilitarian good has COM
out of it, that is only incidental to the mali
problem, which seeks not only to reveal tn
---past Of the earth's growth, but to prophes,
from that past the Interior history and destin,
of the planet Give the biologists time; but
meanwhile, let the people on the level plain
of Indiana and Illinois keep right on boring
for gas is to the interior States more thai
gold to California or silver to Nevada. Natur
has endowed Indiana with soil and climat
unequaled in the universe. and if there ar
gifts stored in the rocks about US equal t
those on the surface, it is our own fault if W
do not develop and utilize them. Gas mean
,wealth and comfort; let the people go for til
gas;,apd wherever the scientist is in doub
lose no Time in sinking hole.